3 years later, German Bakery yet to reopen

The most talked about bakery of Pune for the last three years has sadly seen any baking during this time. The site of a terror attack on the Valentine’s Day eve, German Bakery saw 17 people dead and 64 wounded, reports Satyajit Joshi.

The most talked about bakery of Pune for the last three years has sadly seen any baking during this time. The site of a terror attack on the Valentine’s Day eve, German Bakery saw 17 people dead and 64 wounded.

Shattered by the blast, the popular eatery in the posh Koregaon Park is yet to be reopened.

The owner, Smita Kharose, started to rebuild and renovate the bakery within months, but internal differences and litigation delayed the reopening.

The management was changed and construction completed and the bakery opened partially, but soon ran into trouble with the municipal corporation slapping a notice for illegal construction. It has since been closed.

A second house for thousands of foreigners — particularly to Osho disciples who visit the nearby ashram — the bakery was first set up by a German, Woody Gazet, in 1975. But Pune weather did not suit him and he handed over the bakery to Dhyaneshwar Kharose, Smita’s father, in 1995.

Aware that foreigners were the Bakery’s mainstay, the owner kept the menu, and the simple cane furniture, intact.